LOS ANGELES—It’s weigh-in time and instead of trading barbs, World Boxing Organization (WBO) bantamweight champion Johnriel Casimero and Cuban challenger Guillermo Rigondeaux exchanged smiles.
Casimero, 32, tipped the scale at exactly 118 pounds while two-time Olympic gold medalist Rigondeaux, also a two-division world champion, was in a top condition at 117.5 lbs during the official weigh-in on Friday (Saturday in Manila) at the Hyatt Regency LAX on Friday.
Casimero will be putting his WBO belt on the line on Saturday against Rigondeaux, 40, at the at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.
After exchanging unpleasantries during the fight press conference on Friday, the mood shifted to jovial during the mandatory face off.
Both fighters were smiling when Rigondeaux asked for Casimero’s sunglasses. The Filipino obliged, drawing laughter from the crowd.
“This is a very good fight on August 14. [Guillermo] Rigondeaux is a great fighter,” Casimero said. “But this fight is very important to me because I know my next opponent could be Nonito Donaire or Naoya Inoue.”
“Those two opponents may be scared of me but Rigondeaux is not scared. But don’t worry Rigondeaux, this will be your last fight on August 14,” he added. “It’s easy work.”
Casimero is sporting a 30-4 win-loss record with 21 knockouts while Rigondeaux is holding a 20-1 record with 13 knockouts, his sole defeat coming at the hands of Vasyl Lomachenko in 2017 via a sixth round technical knockout –
Jonas Sultan, a former world title challenger, also tipped the scale at 119 while his opponent, Sharone Carter, weighed in at 118.2 lbs for their non-title eight-round bantamweight clash.
Sultan (16-5 win-loss record with 10 knockouts) is supported by manager Junnie Navarro and Mike Venezuela of Zamboanga Valientes MLV.
Carter, 30, has a 12-4 win-loss record with three knockouts.
The 29-year-old Sultan served as sparring partner to International Boxing Federation super flyweight champion Jerwin Ancajas and Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist Eumir Felix Marcial.
The last time Sultan fought was against compatriot Salatiel Amit at the Superdome in Ormoc City last August 17, 2019. Sultan won via a seventh-round technical knockout.